FIREWALL

firewall

(noun) (colloquial) the application of maximum thrust; “he moved the throttle to the firewall”

firewall

(noun) a fireproof (or fire-resistant) wall designed to prevent the spread of fire through a building or a vehicle

firewall

(noun) (computing) a security system consisting of a combination of hardware and software that limits the exposure of a computer or computer network to attack from crackers; commonly used on local area networks that are connected to the internet

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

firewall (plural firewalls)

(architecture) A fireproof barrier used to prevent the spread of fire between or through buildings, structures, electrical substation transformers, or within an aircraft or vehicle.

Coordinate terms: firestop, fire block

(computer security) The software that monitors traffic in and out of a private network or a personal computer and allows or blocks such traffic depending on its perceived threat.

(physics) A hypothetical phenomenon where an observer falling into a black hole encounters high-energy quanta at or near the event horizon.

Verb

firewall (third-person singular simple present firewalls, present participle firewalling, simple past and past participle firewalled)

(transitive, computer security) To protect with a firewall.

(transitive, computer security) To block with a firewall.

(intransitive, motor vehicles or aircraft, slang) To use maximum acceleration.

Source: Wiktionary